I know a lot of people say that it’s just for publicity when celebrities donate money or do charity work. That argument makes sense considering that the celebrity is issuing a press release about it, tweeting about it, or otherwise making sure we know how philanthropic they are. On the other side, celebrities bring a ton of publicity and awareness to important causes that people might not otherwise pay attention to. (I’m not saying you guys wouldn’t know about or pay attention to these things, you’re the exception.) It’s important that they get the word out while also letting us know they’re doing good.
So here we have Lady Gaga pledging a million dollars to the American Red Cross to go toward Hurricane Sandy relief and issuing a statement about why she’s doing it. She sounds a little patronizing and full of herself, but that’s Gaga, we’re all her “little Monsters,” including people affected by natural disasters who don’t give a toss about her. Lady Gaga doesn’t exist when people don’t pay attention to her, but I can’t fault her in any way for this. This is a very nice gesture for an important cause and it’s a significant amount of money. Sure she’s rich as hell, but she doesn’t spend her money on much other than her business from what I’ve heard, and it must have taken a lot for her to do this. Gaga wrote:
Today I pledge 1 million dollars to New York & The American Red Cross for Hurricane Sandy Relief. If it wasn’t for NYC: the Lower Eastside, Harlem, the Bronx and Brooklyn, I would not be the woman or artist that I am today. New York is relentless ambition, a drive to succeed, a place where there is a natural pursuit of diversity through compassion. Please accept this gift on behalf of myself, my parents Joe and Cynthia, and my sister Natali; with our deepest gratitude New York for raising us. Thank you for helping me build my spirit. I will now help you rebuild yours. Sincerely, Lady Gaga and The Germanottas
Is it bitchy of me to say I hope she comes through with the money? This is Lady Gaga we’re talking about, I expect her to dress up as Lady Liberty in an outfit adorned with replicas of Ellis Island, The Twin Towers and The Empire State Building and hold a press conference while presenting a giant novelty check to the Red Cross. After I wrote that sentence it occurred to me to look up whether Gaga has already dressed as The Statue of Liberty, and of course she has – at least twice.
This is super nice of Gaga to do, and I don’t think it matters if she’s seeking attention for it. That’s just how she lives her life. We’re all her subjects and she’s a benevolent leader who entertains and enlightens us with her unique brand of showmanship.
V Magazine cover from October, 2010. Photos of Gaga in her bikini were taken in Rio yesterday credit: Honopix, PacificCoastNews.com
she is a constant attention seeker, but as long as she pays, this time I’ll give her a pass..
Yep, she puts her money where her mouth is so I don’t care, I don’t like her, but hey she is giving ALOT to an area that needs it desparately…like to see more millionaire celebs put up that kind o money. Those people are and have been in danger 10 days now! Too many people don’t care because it’s not touching them directly. This is Katrina atermath on steroids…where is the all the help? The outrage?
I love the weight she has put on. I think it looks great on her she looks sexy and womanly 🙂
I agree, she looks great!
I still can’t stand her
Not selfless, but definitely admirable. A million dollars is a lot of money to part with, no matter who you are. Good for her.
I agree, Jess. Well done, Lady Gaga.
It still won’t make me like her.
Maybe if she donated her other 149 million.
Lol no, that won’t make me like her either.
Whether or not it’s attention seeking, it’s money that can make a difference. It’s a cause that certainly needs it.
+100
Selfless, attention seeking..who cares?
It’s a million dollars where it needs to be right now.
Good job, Gaga
That’s how I feel any time a celebrity or anyone actually helps out – they can have all the attention they want as long as they do good in the process. God bless ’em.
A million dollars is a million dollars. It helps and it’s a good thing.
Still hate her though.
Agreed on all points.
Now, does anyone think she looks like Avril Lavigne in the header and Statue of Liberty pic?
She does. Between the airbrushing and her recent foray into plastic surgery she’s unrecognizable here.
Yes she does look like AL…she changes her look so much she never looks like Gaga!
Are you sure it was her money? Maybe she got this $$$ from her label or some sponsor and she only put her name on it. She is stunt whore and I don’t buy her crap. She is saying one thing and doing completly opposite thing all the time.
Good on her!
Does not matter.
No it doesn’t matter. It’s ok to do good work and get recognition for it.
You think Donald Trump could cough up that $5 million he was offering up a look at the POTUS’ college transcript? I bet they could come up with a few good uses for those dollar bills on the east coast right now too.
Love that she gave that money
Hate that she made a statement explaining the why of the why she gave that money, giving herself a pat on the back.
agreed
Completely agree.
A donation is always a great thing, no matter what.
Drawing attention to a cause is always a good thing as well.
Releasing a statement with a dollar amount always has a little PR move in there. Making the announcement all abut her, rather than the disaster or the people affected? Gross.
But in the end who cares, so long as the money helps the right people.
Way to go, Gaga!
Can’t stand her but a million dollars is a million dollars. Hope the money helps some victims out and encourages others to give who haven’t already.
For a million to the Red Cross, I’ll read anybody’s 113 word press release.
It’s a million bucks – if she wants to deliver it in person while riding semi-naked through the streets of NY or whatever, she can be forgiven this once.
I don’t like her, but good deeds are good deeds.
On one hand it’s good she donated the money to the Red Cross, but it’s probably also to distract people from figuring out just how hard her tour is flopping.
I don’t care one way or the other about her motives – Red Cross, NJ and NY need the money.
When a person’s home, livelihood has been destroyed, no power,water, hope, they don’t care WHO has paid for their relief, they are just thankful someone has donated to help them. I applaud anyone who donated or volunteers-thank you Lady Gaga, Springsteen, Bon Jovi,and the rest
Anyone that will part with a million dollars to help others can be as obnoxious as they want. I couldn’t care less. I hope other “celebrity” types follow her lead.
My thoughts exactly. Yes, she’s obnoxious and probably craving the attention but at the end of the day the Red Cross needs the money and I’m sure the people in NY / NJ and etc won’t complain either. I don’t care what statement she releases as long as she poneys up the dough.
still don’t like her.. wonder how much of that money came from her revenue from the japan bracelet$
word
Good points jenn and some bitch most give without seeking attention – but as many other posters on previous gaggles stories have remarked, what is truly stunning and emblematic of today’s cheapened celebrity, is how far someone with as marginal talent as gaggles has gotten – if her next cd flops she’ll definitely be over – a passing fad, the musical equivalent of Cheetos. Glad i grew up in the 70s/80s when bands had stature and aura and could play 3 hrs. before 60,000 no gimmicks or stage show just live loud music.
I agree with alot of the other posters. I think she did it for attention, no doubt in my mind, if she could make the Hurricane about herself she would, BUT if she is donating money it’s all that counts.
On another note I really don’t think celebrities bring attention to any cause. They almost always join after the cause is well known just to gain attention themselves. That may sound pessimistic but it’s just how it seems to me.
Good for her. No different then the other famewhores who donate the hospital wing or college endowment.
Her money will do some good.
Please. I’m sure celebs donated a lot of money but don’t use it to get patted on the back. she donates a million and publicizes it to get back in the papers. I’m really glad she donated a million though but turned of by her need to get attention for it.
Awesome.
regardless of her motives, i hope her donation goes a long way to helping those in need. i hope that those affected will recover stronger than ever.
anyway, i’d rather celebrities “attention-seek” in a productive manner (donation of either time or money or both), rather than in a destructive manner (destroying properties, hurting others, etc).
looks like Peaches Geldof in the 2nd pic
I came on this post to say the exact same thing!
It doesn’t matter. Besides, she is from New York or at least lived her formative years there-I am sure the donation was from the heart.
Red Cross is by far the worst charity to donate to because of the money they keep on the inside. look it up. Only about 40% goes out to the needy.
and FYI girl scouts only make less than Fifty cents from each box of cookies. the parent company who make the cookies just use the little girls.
DO research to make sure your donations to charity are 100% non-profit.
Who cares if she’s an attention seeker? She is obviously a generous soul, first celebrity I’ve heard of so far donating that kind of cash.
Not to mention all the wonderful support she regularly gives to the gay community.
When have we ever seen that hag Madonna do ANYTHING for anybody but herself, and she is the biggest attention whore of all!
I am thankful for those whom will get help & hope more with plenty share!
No, at that level it doesn’t freaking matter. Good grief. What a gal.